Sainz case, Aston Martin protest rejected: the Spaniard remains 7th | FormulaPassion.it

The protest

Late afternoon in Shanghai, Aston Martin had lodged an official protest to the International Federation regarding theepisode in qualifying involving Carlos Sainz's Ferrari. The Spanish driver had in fact caused a red flag during Q2 by stopping on the track, only to then return to the track, return to the pits and end the session. The English team argued – as stated in article 39.6 of the sporting regulations – that a car clearly stopped on the track could not participate in the rest of Qualifying.

The decision

The issue was not easily resolved, so much so that the Federation decided to reject the Aston Martin motion with a three-page document published three hours after the protest, at 9.20pm local time. There were many points addressed by the Commissioners in their explanation.

While confirming that a car “stationary” on the track during Qualifying should not take part in the rest of the session, in the past this rule has not been applied. In fact, several times a single-seater managed to restart “in a reasonable time” – usually around 30 seconds – then participated in the rest of Qualifying. It reads that “the teams in the past have tried to reach an agreement on the definition of reasonable time, but without reaching an agreement”.

The Federation underlined that it believes it is essential that the damaged car did not receive any external assistance to restart, for example by track marshals. Aston Martin, however, disputed how Sainz's restart occurred 1 minute and 17 seconds later: once considered acceptable by the FIA ​​precisely due to the absence of clear indications in the regulations or of an agreed and consolidated practice, which at that point becomes the prerogative of the Race Direction. Past episodes in Canada, Monaco and Baku of “stationary” single-seaters which then took part again in the rest of Qualifying were listed, without complaints from the other teams.

Another curiosity: in the document it was highlighted as in July 2023 the conclusion had been reached to add the “external aid” acronym to article 39.6, but also that the change was not actually made to the rule in questiondespite the agreement reached between the teams on the matter.
Considering all this, the FIA ​​has thus decided to consider the Race Direction's decision to allow Carlos Sainz to participate in the rest of the Qualifying as coherent, who will therefore start seventh in tomorrow's Chinese Grand Prix.